The Chinese food market is more open than before, according to a white paper titled “Food Security in China” released by the State Council Information Office on Oct. 14. Foreign-funded enterprises in China have been processing more food, and their revenue from sales is increasing over the years, accounting for 14.5 percent and 17 percent of the national total in 2018.

In addition, foreign-funded enterprises are becoming more involved in depth and width of China's food market, with growing shares of business in edible vegetable oil and food processing, and activities extending into procurement, wholesale and retail, and staple food supply. Foreign-funded enterprises are becoming a key force in developing China’s food industry.

In strict accordance with its commitments upon joining the WTO, China has rescinded import quotas, permits and other non-tariff measures for relevant agricultural products, exercised quota management for imported wheat, corn and rice, and cut import duties on other food types by large margins. It has further eased restrictions on foreign investment in agriculture, allowing foreign-invested seed companies to operate in all grain types other than wheat, corn, and rare species or species unique to China, or genetically modified crops. Restrictions on foreign-invested companies regarding the procurement and wholesale of agricultural products have also been lifted.

On the premise of ensuring its national food security, China earnestly abides by the WTO rules and fulfills the relevant commitments, and actively shares its huge grain market with major grain producing countries. In 2018, China imported 115.55 million tonnes of oil crops, feed and other foods, while exporting 3.66 million tonnes, up 944.8% and 171.1% over 1996, respectively, according to the white paper. Among them, soybean imports totaled 88.03 million tonnes; grain and grain powder imports totaled 20.47 million tonnes, taking up 4.9% of global grain trade that year.